Inside the Mind of a Blind Brook Junior

With another September came the most anticipated event since June: school. Whether it had been dreaded or welcomed with excitement, all four-hundred and seventy two of us walked through the front doors once again after bidding our summers goodbye.

Blind Brook is a school which certainly I feel lucky to attend. There are countless clubs to join, sports teams to play for, and events to attend alongside our peers. But once all of this is put aside, the backbone of our entire school is revealed: our classes. Each class is handpicked with hours of aid from our guidance counselors, previous teachers and fellow students. At times, it seems that we are unsure of what we are getting ourselves into, but in the end we all hope that we’ve picked classes that’ll set us up for successful college applications and bright futures.

First period on the first day of school is the true moment of truth. The questions of whether or not the proper classes were picked are finally so many steps closer to being answered. In my head I tally the hours of work I stipulate I’ll have to do in order to succeed in this class. Often times it seems daunting, and I’m left wondering how it is humanly possible to do everything expected from my teachers on top of extracurricular work. Of course, by the time the first few weeks of school pass, many doubts are either refuted or validated.

As a junior, all of the stress seems to be heightened. Each bad grade seems to become a barrier standing in the way of receiving an admittance to a top college choice. The pressure is on to be able to participate in as many extracurriculars as we can all while juggling standardized test preparation. Thoughts of which of these seemingly countless factors will be of the most benefit to us in the long run flit across our minds. With all of this, becoming distracted or overwhelmed by simple school assignments occurs more often than not.

Perhaps the most prevalent question associated with the mysteries that are classes is: why take Advanced Placement (AP) classes? At Blind Brook, junior year is the first year we are allowed to take these classes, with a few exceptions. With everything fresh and new that we are getting a taste of, AP classes are definitely at the top the list. AP courses give high schoolers the ability to take classes with college-level curricula. In May, students take AP tests and in many cases are able to attain some form of college course credit if they receive high enough scores on the exams. The idea of being able to take these advanced classes can be extremely motivating and exciting to high school students.

Each course has its reputation. We’ve all heard that one may have no homework or that the tests are impossible in another. But in reality, the only thing that matters is how you approach the class. As long as you’re interested in the subject matter and put in the effort to do well, you’re on the way to success.

The compilation of all these thoughts is an early reflection as a junior on the classes, activities and stressors which typically give this year the infamous title of “he11 year”. In a competitive district such as Blind Brook, it is very easy to get caught up thinking about grades and how to be the most prepared for when we have to submit our college applications next year. But high school isn’t supposed to be interminable. It’s supposed to be a time for us to learn and to grow. Even though we all should be thinking about our futures, it’s important for us to set aside time to make memories and enjoy the present.